1958 Land Rover Series 1

Tonight was the first drive!!!

https://i.imgur.com/pkTjSSn.mp4

It did fine going around the block. I was a touch scared and had a fire extinguisher with me. I did have some clutch fluid leak on the exhaust wrap so i didnt want it to catch on fire.
Power steering turns perfect.
The brakes are still a double pumper but at least i know it is most likely some bubbles in the line still. But it does stop real nice when pressurized.

It is a different experience when driving on the right hand side.

 

I dont think i have the patience to do that, BUT I am going to put the Rover up on those sites for rental to movies or photoshoots. I am gonna pimp it out and have it make me some money .

 

The Gods must be Crazy VI...

 

I kind of thought of that movie while watching this video. For some reason the Rover looks like it is going faster than it was like in God Must Be Crazy

 

Looks great, I was glad to see you didn't turn right once you got into the garage...


...blinker.

 

Good Ole Non working return wheel on a Spartan Turn signal. I can think of it being like Lucas .

 

Just when you think things are going good.


So i am still fighting the brakes, i went to the correct size MC and still do not have the brakes I want.

I pulled my pedals and went back over the ratio. For manual brakes i need 6:1, i had 5:1 because i changed something a while ago. I redid my mounting and i am at 6.1:1. That is where i am not, but i took a brake from that (no pun intended) and went to install my new rear driveshaft.

Well i pulled the flange and a bunch of oil came out that was trapped between the flanges. So i went to install a new seal. Popped the old one out and hammered the new one in. I put the yoke on and the pinion barely comes through the flange. WTF!!! I know i did tap the pinion once with teh hammer when putting in the seal, but nothing that should have pushed it through. So it is time to pull the 3rd member.


This being a FJ40 rear axle, it is a C Clip design. Kind of odd having a cover on the Toyota axle.

So I drained the oil and it was real gnarly.



I ran my finger on the bottom of the housing and it was like gritty mud . No pieces but literally felt like dirt was in there.

There was some rust on the cover and on carrier, but nothing bad or unusable.


Odd seeing just an empty void in the housing




3rd on the bench




The bearings did not look that bad. What i did not like is the pinion gear slides in and out of the outer bearing relatively easy. When originally pulling the flange i did notice the pinion nut was waaaaaayyyyy loose. it only stayed on because it was staked.

What I also noticed the 3rd did not have a crush sleeve, or have a solid spacer for shims. So the previous owner was into it and i guess decided to not put any preload in on the pinion. So i am going to get a rebuild kit and put it back together correct. I think the worst thing about it all, besides the smell or gear oil an mess, is the ratio of the ring and pinion is 3.70. But the tires are not huge and with the V6 it runs fine. Now to order a rebuild kit and have at it. Then i can finally try the brakes out again.

 

One step forward and another step back...

 

I will be getting there soon enough. the front pinion seal is leaking like heck also.

 

Another step back...